For civil matters, parties represented by a lawyer do not necessarily need to attend a hearing. For parties who may want attend court hearings anyways, here are a few etiquette and practical considerations to be aware of prior to entering the court room:
For virtual hearings:
– Log in to the zoom link several minutes in advance of the hearing
– Attend court from a quiet, calm area with few distractions in the background. A car is not an appropriate place from which to attend a virtual hearing
– Be dressed appropriately, as if attending court in person. Pajamas and loungewear are not appropriate attire. Hats and sunglasses should be removed
– Phones and other devices, including the computer from which the participant is attending the hearing, should be muted or put on “do not disturb” mode
– Refrain from making faces, gestures, or other strong reactions to the events of the court room
– Unless the participant is speaking, their microphone and audio should be muted
– If a participant is represented by a lawyer, their lawyer should do all the talking
– Do not multitask. Judges can tell when participants are texting or doing other tasks
– Eating and drinking is not permitted while on camera. Chewing gum is not permitted.
For in-person hearings:
– Arrive at the court house early. All attendees must go through security, which may take awhile
– Dress appropriately. Hats and headwear are not permitted (except for religious reasons). Sunglasses must be removed before entering the courtroom.
– Attendees should sit in the gallery, at the back of the court room. Typically, attendees sit on the same side of the room as their lawyer
– Do not lean on or put feet on the chairs
– All attendees must stand when the judge enters the courtroom. Stand and remain standing until the registrar (the person announcing the judge) invites attendees to be seated
– Remain silent throughout the proceedings
– Food and beverages are not allowed in the courtroom. Chewing gum is not permitted in the courtroom.
– Phones and other devices should be off, muted, or put on “do not disturb” mode
– Refrain from making faces, gestures, or other strong reactions to the events of the courtroom
– Avoid exiting or entering the courtroom while court is in session. Generally, each court has a morning break, lunch break, and an afternoon break. The timing of these is at the judge’s discretion
– Be prepared to attend for the full day. There may be several hearings before the judge that day, and the order in which they are heard is at the judge’s discretion
– Do not take photographs anywhere in the courthouse
Hopefully, these tips and refreshers on courtroom etiquette will make attending court a little less daunting.
